Douro Cruise May 2025
In May of this year, a group of local members of the Chaine enjoyed a memorable cruise through Portugal’s picturesque Douro Valley, a journey that had been in the making for quite some time. Due to the very limited availability, plans for the trip had to be confirmed nearly two years in advance.
Our group consisted of Joseph and Elsie Xuereb, David and Caroline Bartolo, Mark and Louise Bailey, and Simone Busuttil. We arrived in Porto the day before the cruise began, making the most of the evening and the following morning to explore some of the city’s highlights. These included the beautifully tiled São Bento railway station, the historic Livraria Lello bookshop, the Clerigos Tower, the iconic Luis I Bridge, and the Porto Cathedral.
That evening, we visited Enoteca 1756, a charming wine bar just a short stroll from our hotel, where we enjoyed an excellent selection of port wines, thoughtfully chosen by Joseph.
DAY 1 EMBARKATION
The following afternoon, we boarded our ship, the AmaSintra, settled in, and had dinner on board. This was followed by a short illumination cruise. As the ship stayed in port overnight, after dinner, some of us revisited Enoteca 1756 as we had really enjoyed our first visit.
The AmaSintra is the newest AmaWaterways ship, with 51 staterooms featuring all the amenities one would expect in a ship of this calibre.
Porto proved to be a city rich in history, culture, and charm, leaving us not only with beautiful memories but also with the feeling that this was a place to which we would one day return.
Day 2 REGUA – Visit to Mateus Palace and Gardens
The following day, we started out from Porto and cruised most of the morning. The cruise involved passing through many locks. In the afternoon, we had a tour of the Mateus Palace and Gardens.
The Mateus Palace and gardens, also known as Casa de Mateus, is a stunning baroque Manor house located in Vila Real. It is known for its architecture and meticulously designed gardens, which blend formality with natural landscape. Interestingly, the company which produces Mateus Rose wine has licensed the use of the palace's name and image to put on their bottles. The wine is not made at the palace or on its grounds.
DAY 3 VEGA DE TERRON - Castelo Rodrigo Tour/Hike
After spending the morning cruising past steep vineyards and through more locks, including one that is said to be the highest in Europe, we docked and took a bus tour to Castello Rodrigo. We had the option of being driven up to the village or taking a short hike to reach it.
Castelo Rodrigo is a small fortified town perched on a hilltop with centuries-old walls, steep, narrow streets and magnificent views. After wandering around the village, we were treated to a very nice port tasting session with some local delicacies, including very tasty salted almonds!
Whilst we were on our tour, the ship had moved on, and when we returned, it had berthed at the Vega de Terron Quay, which is actually in Spain. This was the furthest point of the cruise.
DAY 4 VEGA DE TERRON – Salamanca Tour
For some of our group, the trip to Salamanca, declared a world heritage site in 1988 by UNESCO, was the highlight of the cruise. With its golden sandstone architecture, cathedrals, a famous university, Plaza Mayor and its strong relationship with the Camino de Santiago, Salamanca is a jewel of northwestern Spain. Besides visiting the city and having lunch at a local restaurant, we also attended a flamenco dance session.
Day 5 PINHAO
After sailing to the small riverside village of Pinhao, we disembarked for a stroll around the village, after which we were taken to Quinta de Roeda, Croft's famous estate, for a tour of the vineyards and a port tasting session.
Day 6 REGUA – Lamego Tour
We set off on another tour to Lamego, a historic city known for its rich history, stunning architecture, and wine production. It was a lovely place to visit, nestled amidst vineyard-covered hills, with some exceptional religious sites, especially the sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies with its 600-step staircase. This was followed by an amazing lunch at a local Quinta. The evening meal on board was a special one, the Captain's Dinner.
Day 7 PORTO
On our final full day of the cruise, we sailed into Porto and, depending on individual wishes, either went on an organised tour of the city or explored the city on our own.
